On the inverse problem of minimum spanning tree with partition constraints

In this paper we first discuss the properties of minimum spanning tree and minimum spanning tree with partition constraints. We then concentrate on the inverse problem of minimum spanning tree with partition constraints in which we need to adjust the weights of the edges in a network as less as possible so that a given spanning tree becomes the minimum one among all spanning trees that satisfy the partition restriction. Based on the calculation of maximum cost flow in networks, we propose a strongly polynomial algorithm for solving the problem.The author gratefully acknowledges the partial support of Croucher Foundation.